asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Government will be announcing their decision on food irradiation following the report from the Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter) on 12 January at column 120. We are still awaiting the further advice of the Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods.